“Current Affairs Pulse – 03/10/2017”

1. Which of the following statements about the Global Wildlife Program are correct: a. This initiative was launched by the Global Environment Facility under the aegis of the World Bank in June 2015. b. It promotes wildlife conservation and sustainable development by combating illicit trafficking in wildlife, poaching and its demand. c. India is not a partner country in the Global Wildlife Program. Options: a. 1 and 2 only b. 2 and 3 only c. 1 and 3 only d. None of the above Answer: 1 Refer the PIB Newsletter dated October 2, 2017.

2. Which of the following statements regarding the National Wildlife Action Plan 2017-2030 are correct: a. It will replace the second National Wildlife Action Plan 2002 – 2016. b. It is not prepared by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. Options: a. 1 only b. 2 only c. Both 1 and 2 d. Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: 1 Refer the PIB Newsletter dated October 2, 2017.

3. Which of the following are among the main features of the new National Wildlife Action Plan 2017 – 2030: a. The new National Wildlife Action Plan 2017 – 2030 is not landscape-based but sanctuary, or national park-based. b. The New National Wildlife Action Plan 2017 – 2030 Plan focuses on preservation of genetic diversity and sustainable development. c. Some of the new action issues considered in the Third National Wildlife Action Plan includes – climate change and wildlife, wildlife health, inland, coastal and marine conservation and wildlife conflict mitigation. Options: a. 1 and 2 only b. 2 and 3 only c. 1 and 3 only d. All of the above Answer: 2 Refer the PIB Newsletter dated October 2, 2017.

4. Which one of the following is not amongst the five components of the new National Wildlife Action Plan 2017 – 2030: a. Strengthening and promoting the integrated management of wildlife and their habitats. b. Adaptation to climate change and promoting integrated sustainable management of aquatic biodiversity in India. c. Promoting eco-tourism. d. Nature education; participatory management and strengthening wildlife research. Options: a. 1 and 2 only b. 2 and 3 only c. 1 and 3 only d. All of the above Answer: 4 Refer the PIB Newsletter dated October 2, 2017.

5. Which of the following statements regarding SECURE HIMALAYA initiative are correct: a. It only aims to promote the sustainable management of alpine pastures and forests in the high range Himalayan ecosystems. b. The aim of the initiative also includes the secure conservation of globally significant wildlife, including endangered snow leopard and their habitats in the high range Himalayan ecosystem. c. The SECURE HIMALAYA initiative does not aim to ensure sustainable livelihoods and community socio-economic benefits in the high range Himalayan ecosystem. Options: a. 1 and 2 only b. 2 and 3 only c. 2 only d. 3 only Answer: 2 Refer the PIB Newsletter dated October 2, 2017 and the Global Environment Facility.

6. The SECURE in the SECURE HIMALAYA initiative stands for: a. Securing Livelihoods, Conservation, Sustainable Use and Restoration of High Range Himalayan Ecosystems. b. Securing Livelihoods, Conservation, Use and Restoration of High Range Himalayan Ecosystems. c. Securing, Conservation, Restoration of High Range Himalayan Ecosystems. d. It has no particular definition. Options: a. 1 only b. 2 only c. 3 only d. 4 only Answer: 1 Refer the PIB Newsletter dated October 2, 2017 and the Global Environment Facility.

7. Which of the following statements regarding the SECURE HIMALAYA initiative are correct: a. The implementing agency for the SECURE HIMALAYA initiative is the United Nations Development Programme. b. The Executing agency for the SECURE HIMALAYA initiative is the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. c. The implementing agency for the SECURE HIMALAYA initiative is the World Bank. d. The Executing agency for the SECURE HIMALAYA initiative is the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee. Options: a. 1 and 2 only b. 2 and 3 only c. 1 and 3 only d. None of the above Answer: 1 Refer the PIB Newsletter dated October 2, 2017 and the Global Environment Facility.

8. Which of the following statements regarding the SECURE HIMALAYA initiative are correct: a. It is part of the Global Wildlife Program, a seven-year program funded by the Global Environment Facility and led by the World Bank co hosted by the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change in India. b. This project will not contribute to the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GLSEP), an effort to conserve the species in the 12 range countries, including India. Options: a. 1 only b. 2 only c. Both 1 and 2 d. Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: 1 Refer the official website of the Global Environment Facility.

9. Which of the following states have reached the milestone of making all cities and towns Open Defecation Free as the Swatch Bharath Mission completed three years today: a. Madhya Pradesh. b. Maharashtra. c. Chattisgarh. d. Jharkhand and Haryana Options: a. 1 and 2 only b. 2 and 3 only c. 1 and 3 only d. All of the above Answer: 4 Refer PIB newsletter dated October 2, 2017.

10. Which of the following statements regarding Article 340 of the Indian Constitution are correct: a. Under Article 340 of the Indian Constitution, the Prime Minister of India can appoint a commission to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes and to recommend the steps to improve their conditions. b. Under Article 340 of the Indian Constitution, the President of India can appoint a commission to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes and to recommend the steps to improve their conditions. c. Under Article 340 of the Indian Constitution, the President of India can appoint a commission to investigate the conditions of socially and economically backward classes and to recommend the steps to improve their conditions. Options: a. 2 only b. 1 and 3 only c. 2 and 3 only d. 1 only Answer: 1 Refer PIB newsletter dated October 2, 2017.

12. The terms of reference of Commission to Examine Sub Categorization of Other Backward Classes under Article 340 of the Constitution includes: a. To examine the extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the castes or communities included in the broad category of Other Backward Classes in the Central List. b. To work out the mechanism, criteria, norms and parameters in a scientific approach for sub-categorisation within such Other Backward Classes. c. To take up the exercise of identifying the respective castes or communities or sub-castes or synonyms in the Central List of Other Backward Classes and classifying them into their respective sub-categories. Options: a. 1 and 2 only b. 2 and 3 only c. 3 only d. All of the above Answer: 4 Refer PIB newsletter dated October 2, 2017.

13. Which of the following statements regarding the 2017 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology are correct: a. The prize was jointly awarded to Jeffrey C Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael W Young for their discoveries of molecular mechanisms controlling the circadian rhythm. b. Of the 230 Nobel Laureates who received the Nobel Prize for Medicine/ Physiology since 1901, two were born in India namely Ronal Ross and Hargobind Khorana. Options: a. 1 only b. 2 only c. Both 1 and 2 d. Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: 3 Refer Page No 1 and 9 of The Hindu Dated October 3, 2017.

14. Which one of the following statements regarding Circadian Rhythm are correct: a. A circadian rhythm is a roughly 24 hour cycle in the physiological processes of living beings, including plants, animals, fungi and cyanobacteria. b. The recipients of the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 2017 peeked inside the Circadian clock to finds its way of operation and discovered that animals, humans and plants adapt their biological rhythm to synchronize it with earth’s revolutions. Options: a. 1 only b. 2 only c. Both 1 and 2 only d. Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: 3 Refer Page No 1 and 9 of The Hindu Dated October 3, 2017.

15. Which of the following statements regarding the rapid test to diagnose Zika and Dengue are correct: a. None of the rapid tests available today are capable of differentiating the four dengue virus serotypes. b. An international team, including researchers from India has identified pairs of antibodies that can specifically detect and distinguish each of the four dengue serotype NS1 proteins as well as the Zika NS1 protein. c. The team has also developed a pan-dengue strip which indicates positivity to dengue virus without cross-reacting with Zika NS1 unlike the current kits. The strip cannot differentiate between the four serotypes. Options: a. 1 and 2 only b. 2 and 3 only c. 1 and 3 only d. All of the above Answer: 4 Refer Page No 9 of The Hindu Dated October 3, 2017.

16. Which of the following statements regarding the eSamikSha mechanism are correct: a. It is a real time, on-line system for monitoring of follow-up action on the decisions taken during the presentations made by different Ministries/Departments to the Prime Minister. b. All Central government departments has to work out specific targets to be achieved by 2022, when India will complete 75 years of independence and the progress in implementing projects and policy initiatives by the departments will be monitored through eSamikSha portal. c. eSamikSha project is under the aegis of Ministry of Information Technology. Options: a. 1 and 2 only b. 2 and 3 only c. 1 and 3 only d. All of the above Answer: 1 Refer Page No 10 of The Hindu Dated October 3, 2017.

17. Which of the following statements regarding the country of Spain are correct: a. The Balearic Island located off the North African Atlantic coast is owned by Spain. b. The Canary Island located in the Mediterranean sea is owned by Spain. Options: a. 1 only b. 2 only c. Both 1 and 2 d. Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: 4 Refer Page No 12 of The Hindu Dated October 3, 2017 and any standard Geography Atlas.

18. Which of the following statements regarding the Joint panel for repatriation of Rohingya refugees are correct: a. The joint panel was proposed by UNHRC to take back the Rohingya who had come to Bangladesh, fleeing the violence in the Rakhine State. b. Myanmar and Bangladesh have agreed on forming a joint working group to oversee the repatriation process of Rohingyas who fled the violence from Myanmar to Bangladesh. Options: a. 1 only b. 2 only c. Both 1 and 2 d. Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: 2 Refer Page No 12 of The Hindu Dated October 3, 2017

19. Which of the following statements regarding India and United States trade relationship is correct: a. The first ever shipment of U.S. crude oil has been received by India recently. b. The inclusion of the U.S. as a source for crude oil imports by India will go a long way in mitigating the risks arising out of geo-political disruptions. c. The new arrangement will not usher in price stability and energy security for India, which is witnessing robust growth in demand for petroleum products. Options: a. 1 and 2 only b. 2 and 3 only c. 1 and 3 only d. All of the above Answer: 1 Refer Page No 12 of The Hindu Dated October 3, 2017

20. Which of the following statements regarding the Match point Technology are correct: a. It is a technology that can turn everyday objects — such as teacups or toy cars — into remote controls for televisions. b. Matchpoint’ technology only requires a simple webcam and works by displaying moving targets that orbit a small circular widget in the corner of the TV screen. c. The user can move his hand, head, or object, in the required direction indicated by the slider to change the volume or to find the desired channel. Options: a. 1 and 2 only b. 2 and 3 only c. 1 and 3 only d. All of the above Answer: 4 Refer Page No 18 of The Hindu Dated October 3, 2017

21. Which of the following statements about fruit fly are correct: a. The recipients of the Nobel Prize for Medicine for 2017 isolated the period gene in fruit flies which eventually resulted in the discovery of Circadian rhythms and dysfunctions. b. They found that a protein encoded by the gene of the fruit fly accumulated during the night and degraded during daytime. Options: a. 1 only b. 2 only c. Both 1 and 2 d. Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: 3 Refer Page No 18 of The Hindu Dated October 3, 2017